Carinthia University of Applied Sciences Villach, Austria

Online Labs in Education and Training

Michael E. Auer

Scientific Leadership

Prof. Michael E. AuerProf. Andreas Pester

Fields of work:

• Virtual Laboratories• Remote Laboratories• AJAX / XML environments for data exchange

Scientist in Charge

Courses:• Fundamentals of Electrical Engineering 1, 2, 3 • Electronic Devices and Circuits 1, 2, 3 • Microelectronics• Field Theory• Remote Applications 1, 2• Design of Interactive Electronic Documents• Internet Technologies

Profession:• Head of the Center of Competence „Online Laboratories and Open Learning“• President and CEO of the „International Association of Online Engineering“ (IAOE)• Guest professor: PSUT Amman, Universities of Patras and Brasov• Managing Director OnlineJournals.ORG

Editor-in-Chief:• International Journal of Online Engineering (iJOE)• International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET)• International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologies (iJIM)

Furthermore:• REV Conferences Steering Committee Chair• IEEE EDUCON Steering Committee Chair• ICL Conferences General Chair

Prof. Dr.-Ing., Dr.sc.techn.Michael E. AuerSenior Member IEEEM.Auer@IEEE.org

CCOL2 Resources

• 2 Profs• 4 Researchers• Lab Engineer• E-Learning manager• Software assistant• 7 PhD and Master student

• OCW Mirror Server• MIT iLab Broker Server• Several Lab Server• MATLAB Web Server• CITRIX Application Server• Reverse Proxy• CLIX E-Learning Platform• Zope with EduCommons

Words of Wisdom

„I hear ... I forget;I see ... I remember;

I do ... I understand.“Confucius, about 500 B.C.

„Better learning will not come from finding better ways for teachers to instruct but from finding better ways for learners to construct.“

Seymour Papert, Former Head of MIT Media Lab

Learning by Doing– a basic element of a contemporary education !

Learning by Doing

Especially in the education of engineers:• interactive calculations• simulation experiments• experiments with real hardware

Lab work will have an increasing importance:• Not only in technical and science education• But more and more in other subjects (Math, Architecture, BA, …)

But expenditure is growing:• Costs for equipment/software• Administration efforts• Supervising staff (experts)• Short life cycles of hard- and software

1. Problem:There are a lot of solutions and implementations of Online Labs,

but it is difficult for learners to access and to use them.

2. Problem:It’s difficult for authors/lecturers to develop their own Online Lab

solution.

3. Problem:It‘s difficult to integrate Online Labs in e-learning materials

(scripts, presentations, ...).

Not enough that the author has to setup the lab, he also has toensure that the learner can access it via a web page!

Main Problems

Way out, or what we need

• Cooperative work by use of the Internet: centralized or decentralized supply of lab resources i.e. distributed labs and it’s shared use

• Standard web-enabled lab environments easy to use and reuse flexible not expensive

• Use of XML: clear separation of content, lab calls and design/presentation

Lab work is embedded in a changing communication environment:

Formerly: Today:

dial-up broadbandsometimes connected always connectedwired connected wireless connectedapplications services (Web 2.0 3.0)

(installation-less, SOA – Service Oriented Architecture)

PC for less than $100, Negroponte, MIT

The Communication Environment

OLPC Project

Online Engineering or E-Engineering

Needs come from:• Globalization (growing division of labor, time zones, etc ...)

• Decreasing time to market (SME, ...)

• Trend to single piece production (end customer business)

• Technological requirements (microelectronics, nanotechnology, space technology, …)

Driven by technical progress: Internet

Online Engineering

can be defined as

a combination of engineering and telematics, where specific engineering activities like programming, designing, controlling, measuring, sensoring, maintenance etc. are provided in an interactive manner over a distributed network (Internet, intranet etc.)

a special network technology with remote and virtual labs as a core

Grid technologies are of high interest for Online Engineering.

Applications in virtual learning environments and in industries.

Some benefits of industrial use of remote labs are:

• Expensive and complex instruments can be used from different locations of a company or between different companies.

• Complex experimental systems, including specific media addition such as cooling, inert gas maintained by special equipment and staff at a specific location, can be directly controlled from the scientists’ or engineers’ office.

• Team members, working at different locations can effectively cooperate and take advantage of the same test-run results without extra traveling.

• Long-term trials (reliability, failure performance) can be comfortably supervised from home, e.g. at weekends.

Industrial Use of Online Labs

Types of Laboratories (1)

Experimenterlocal remote

Expe

rimen

tvi

rtual

real Presence lab

Local simulation

Remote lab

Virtual lab

mobile

m o

b i

l e

mobile

Online labs

Remote Lab:The remote lab is designed to provide real-time experiments with hardware equipment.

Virtual Lab:In a virtual lab each experiment is simulated by using software (e.g. LabVIEW, MATLAB, ORCAD, …).

Types of Online Labs (2)

Both are accessible via mobile devices!

Remote labs can be mobile itself!(Automotive, MedIT, ... )

Virtual Lab

• cheaper• more flexible• independent from time and location• multi-user operation• easier to maintenance

Advantages:

Simulators:

• with Web interface (z.B. MATLAB)• without Web interface (z.B. ORCAD)

Synchronous Lab:• There is a direct connection between the user (client)

and the lab (server).

Online Labs Access

Asynchronous Lab:• The client sends a request to the server• The request waits in the server queue• The request is processed• The server sends the result to the client

Typical single user system

Multi-user systemBatched architecture

Interactive architecture

Examples of Good Practice

CyberLab, I-Lab StanfordVISIR Lab BlekkingeiLab MIT BostonWebLab DeustoOLA (VELO, REL) VillachMP Lab Barcelona…

Current Trends

• Mobile (e2m)

• Distributed

• Game based

Mobile Experiment - Wireless Sensor

Use of lab resources at different locations:

Tutor Student

Virtual Lab Remote Lab Library ...

Distributed Lab

Laboratory Grid:

- No high performance computing- But decentralized organization

Overview iLabs Shared Architecture

22

Build

Program

Go!

The Game Based Approach

The LEGO Mindstorms Concept

• Clear separation of the environment and the experiment itself

• Use of commercial tools (if possible)

• Minimal effort on the client side (only a Web Browser)

Effective reuse possible !

Implementations can also be used in other contexts

Our Philosophy

Projects (Coordinating)

• REL (Remote Electronic Lab) funded by National Instruments

• VELO (Virtual Electronic Laboratory) funded by Austrian Ministry of Education and Research

• OLA (Online Lab Austria) funded by Austrian Ministry of Education and Research

• MARE (Joint European Master Degree Program Remote Engineering)

funded by EU/SOCRATES

• BIT2010 (Joint European Bachelor Degree in Information Technology)

funded by EU/SOCRATES

Projects (Partner)

• PROLEARN (Network of Excellence) funded by EU/FP6

• LEAL (Interactive Programs in Industrial Automation) funded by EU/ALPHA

• REAL (Remote Engineering and Application Laboratory) funded by EU/ENABLE

• OntoWiki (Semantic Collaboration for Enterprise Knowledge Management, E-Learning and E-Tourism)

funded by EU/FP6

Main Partners in Projects

• MIT, USA• FH Düsseldorf, Germany • Technische Universität Ilmenau, Germany • KTH Stockholm, Sweden• Princess Sumaya University Amman, Jordan • UNESP Sao Paulo Region, Brazil • University of Patras, Greece• University of Limerick, Ireland • University of Porto, Portugal • University Transylvania Brasov, Romania • University of Maribor, Slovenia • University of Barcelona, Spain • Technical University of Kiev, Ukraine • UNED Madrid, Spain• University of Bucharest, Romania• University of St. Etienne, France• ...

Conferences

• ICL (International Conference on Interactive Computer aided Learning)Since 1998 in VillachICL2008: 340 participants from 61 countries

• REV (International Symposium on Remote Engineering and Virtual Instrumentation)

Since 2004, REV2007 Porto, REV2008 Duesseldorf, REV2009 Bridgeport CT

• IMCL (International Conference on Interactive Computer aided Mobile Learning)

Since 2006 in Amman, Jordan

• ICBL (International Conference on Interactive Computer aided BlendedLearning)

Since 2007 in Florianopolis, Brazil

• ICELW (International Conference on E-Learning on the Working Place)Since 2008 in New York

• IEEE EDUCON International Engineering Education ConferenceStart 2010 in Madrid

(organized by CCOL2)

new

Summer Schools

(organized by CCOL2 with partners)

• February 2007, Villach, Austria: “Remote Control”

• July 2008, Ilmenau, Germany: “Wireless Communications”

• July 2009, Maribor-Villach: "Applications of Remote and Virtual Technologies"

• July 2010, Blekkinge, Sweden: “Signal Processing"

Summer Schools for PhD and Master Students with industrialpartners (NI, Agilent, Emona, …)

Publications

iJOE - International Journal of Online Engineeringsince 2005 www.i-joe.org

iJET - International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learningsince 2006 www.i-jet.org

iJIM - International Journal of Interactive Mobile Technologiessince 2007 www.i-jim.org

iJAC - International Journal of Advanced Corporate Learningsince 2008 www.i-jac.org

Bilateral Cooperations

(with universities)• Stanford University, USA• TU Berlin, Germany• University of Bridgeport CT, USA• Open University UK• University of Technology Sydney, Australia• Concordia University Montreal, Canada• University of Ulm, Germany• University of Bechar, Algeria• University of Deusto, Spain• University of Zagreb, Croatia• University of Genua, Italy• University of Colimna, Mexico• University of Technology Bucharest• State University Moscow (MADI), Russia• Blekinge Institute of Technology, Sweden• University of Ljubljana, Slovenia• University of Reading, UK• University of Pretoria, South Africa• ...

International Association of Online Engineering

Michael E. Auer, Founder, President and CEO Andreas Pester, Secretary General

A.Y. Al-Zoubi, Vice-President International Affairs J.M. Martins Ferreira, Vice-President Membership Affairs Christophe Gravier, Vice-President Academic Relations Karsten Henke, Vice-President Educational Affairs Doru Ursutiu, Vice-President Industrial Relations Arthur Edwards, Latin America LiaisonDavid Lowe, Australian LiaisonAndreja Roijko Kirchengasse 10/200

A-1070 WIENAustriaPhone: +43 664 73621196Fax: +49 12120 294752info@online-engineering.orgwww.online-engineering.org

www.online-engineering.org

MARE Project

“Joint European Master Program Remote Engineering”

Partners:

• CUAS Villach (AT) (Coordinator)• University of Ilmenau (DE)• University of Limerick (IR)• University of Maribor (SI)• University of Brasov (RO)Associated partners:

• Blekkinge Inst.of Technology (SE)• PSUT Amman (JO)• TU Bucharest (RO)• TU Kharkiv (UA)

Results and Experience

We have now:

Joint and agreed curriculum

Content of the modules in English

Didactic guidelines

Running e-learning environment (Moodle, EduCommons)

Accreditation of the study degree program in Austria, Slovenia, Romania, Germany

Running Master Course in Villach, Austria

Master Study Program Remote Systemsat CUAS

within the Systems DesignProgram

Module Structure

Remote Systems Master (1)

Remote Systems Master (2)

Standard Lab Solutions of CCOL2

• Remote Electronic Lab (REL)• Virtual Electronic Lab (VELO)• ASIC Design Lab (Hybrid Lab)• Micro Web Server (Embedded Web Server)• Lab Portal (OntoWiki)• XML Data Exchange Tools• XML Environment for interactive documents

Main Goal: easy to use development environments

A Mixed Reality Lab integrates different kinds of online labs.

For example:

• JAVA applets and movies for instruction purposes

• Simulation Tools• Remote Lab for measurements and tests

Mixed Reality Lab / Hybrid Lab

Online ASIC Design Lab

• Very complex solution combination of a virtual lab and a remote lab online development of

• digital (Xilinx) and• analog (Lattice) ASIC‘s

• The following steps are implemented ASIC (digital/analog) design system running on a lab server simulation of the design on the lab server download of the design to the connected hardware (evaluation

boards) test and measurements with real or virtual instruments via the

Internet

The READ System

40

Application Delivery Client(PAC-Designer)

The READ System User logs in the service broker and chooses the READ Lab

Citrix Metaframe and READ Lab clients are delivered as Java Applets

Design.PAC

InternetInternet

(Web Services SOAP calls)

The READ Lab Client

41

Delivered as a Java Applet

Implements a Web services interface to communicate with the service broker

Provides a GUI for the online lab user that facilitates the visualization of measured signals

PAC-Designer user interface READ user interface

The READ Lab Server

42 The READ Lab Server

ASP.NET Web Application

Web Services API

Experiment EngineDatabase

LabView VI

PAC-DesignerAPI

READ Lab Server

Application Delivery Server

ProcessManager

Internet

Internet

User

Design and Simulation

Circuit under Test

The READ Hardware

43

READ – Remote ASIC Design and Test

Allows for the realization of Electronics Experiments with an analogue programmable device .

A hybrid laboratory, allowing the design, simulation and test of real devices.

Completely integrated with the iLabs Shared Architecture (batched experiment)

REL – The Remote Electronic Lab

Synchronous Remote Lab

Set of Circuits for NI-ELVIS

45

Based on the MIT ELVIS iLab v1.0

We developed a set of Modules addressed by a bunch of switches

VELO – Virtual Electronic Lab

Developed at CUAS and Part of Online Lab Austria (OLA)

Virtual Lab

MP Remote Lab

UOC Barcelona, SpainCUAS Villach, Austria

Hybrid Lab

Altera MAX CPLD Remote Lab

Hybrid Lab

UTBv Brasov, RomaniaCUAS Villach, Austria

Embedded Web Server (EWS)

3 cm

• less than 100 EUR• full functional web server• http, ftp, telnet, RS232, USB

Internet

hardwaredevice

micro web server

web enabled device

Ethernet

Micro Web Server

USB, RS232

EWS User Interface Examples

Remote Lab with EWS

Use of touch screen

EWS Front End

Flash Animation

Online Engineering

Online Engineering is one of the future trends in advanced teleworking/e-working environments not only in engineering and science (economics, informatics) but also in all other fields affecting society, due to:

• the growing complexity of engineering tasks,• the increasingly specialized and expensive equipment, software tools

and simulators required,• the necessary use of expensive equipment and software

tools/simulators in short time projects,• the application of high tech equipment required in SMEs,• the need of highly qualified staff to control new equipment,• the demands of globalisation and division of labour

Industrial Use of Online Labs

• Expensive and complex instruments can be used from different locations of a company or can be shared by different companies.

• Complex experimental systems, including specific media addition such as for cooling inert gas maintained by special equipment and staff at a specific location, can be directly controlled from the scientists’ or engineers’ office.

• Team members working at different locations can effectively cooperate and take advantages of the same test-run results without any extra traveling.

• Long-term trials (reliability, failure performance) can be conveniently supervised from home, e.g. at weekends.

Future Trends

• Collaborative Labs – Collaboratories (collaboration between groups of users)

• Mobile users and mobile labs• Distributed labs• Hybrid or mixed reality labs• Global dissemination

Use of Web 3.0 Technologies

Web 1.0 Web 2.0 Web 3.0Many Web sitescontaining unstructured,textual content

Few large Web sites are specialized onspecific content types

Many Web sites containing & semantically structured content

PicturesVideo

Encyclopedicarticles+ +

Sören Auer - Linked Data Web

Web Transitions

C-S-Architecture Grid Architecture

Web 2.0 to web 3.0 Transition

The transition from web 2.0 to web 3.0 means especially the transitions

• from receiver to producer of information, • from static to dynamic content, • from control of the few to the wisdom of the crowds.

Main characteristics of Web 3.0 are the use of

• Semantic technologies• 3D interactive technologies (3Di)• Collaborative working environments

This means: Data share between web sites as well as applications/services

Vassil Alexandrov – Web 3.0

Online Lab Middleware

From our point of view the MIT iLab Shared Architecture (ISA) is best suited for a global OL Grid.

Different well-known approaches:• Cyberlab, Norway• OCELOT, France• ISA (iLab Shared Architecture), MIT USA• …

Internet InternetMiddle Ware

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Dr.sc. Michael E. AuerCarinthia University of Applied SciencesEuropastrasse 49524 Villach, Austriawww.cti.ac.at/auerm.auer@ieee.org

Contact

Authors:Michael AuerDanilo Garbi ZutinChristian MaierMichael NiederstätterAndreas Pester